Construction is set to begin for a "European-style Piazza" near the waterfront in San Pedro, Los Angeles City Councilmember Joe Buscaino announced yesterday.

Planned at the intersection of 6th Street and Harbor Boulevard, the "Piazza Miramare" will be located within San Pedro's Little Italy neighborhood. A fountain will bookend the northern side of the piazza, while its east side will be improved with a new trellis structure providing shade for visitors to the harbor. Plans also call for the "Beacon Steps," which will provide outdoor terrace seating.

The piazza will be managed and programmed by the Little Italy of Los Angeles Association (LILAA).

Future site of Piazza MiramareGoogle Maps

"This programming will augment the cultural experiences for Angelenos, and attract people from all over the region, catalyzing the local economy," reads the post from Buscaino's Facebook page. "LILAA’s Board of Directors comprises of respected leaders of Los Angeles’ Italian- American community, with extensive experience on major projects and fundraising. The Board has already received substantial funding commitments from a multitude of sources. Moreover, dozens of people have contributed hundreds of volunteer hours to the effort."

The projects backers expect that 100,000 people will visit the piazza and surrounding areas in its first year of operation.

Piazza Miramare sits just southeast of 550 Harborfront, a new mixed-use building recently completed by Holland Partner Group. The developer is set to build an even larger housing development directly north of the open space.